Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football

On this week's podcast Kehlan talks with Author, Historian and Everton Heritage Society member Rob Sawyer about his book – The Emerald Evertonian – about the life and times of Ireland and Everton legend Peter Farrell.With over 400 appearances for Everton, 28 for Ireland and 7 for Northern Ireland, Peter Farrell was a huge influence on football both for Everton and Ireland. He was part of famous victories for Rep. of Ireland as they became the first foreign team to beat England in England and also was part of the team that won 0-1 in Spain.Rob's well researched book tells the personal, as well as the career story, of a real servant to Everton and Irish football.

Now it was by far the biggest story of the year to that point. It caused a huge split in national opinion. Roy Keane was one the biggest footballers in the world. He had become synonymous with a relentless run of trophies at the club.His manager for the Rep. of Ireland, Mick McCarthy, had been one of our greatest defenders under Jack Charlton. Not blessed pace, but blessed with a great ability to read the game. He was Jack’s captain and now he was manager of the national side.There had been rumblings for years that Roy was unhappy with the Irish national team setup. It wasn’t good enough. And he saw Mick as enabling it for far too long.Something was about to give…

Now following on from Part 1 where Gerry finished talking about the great goalkeeper Pat Jennings. In Part 2 he talks to Kehlan about Northern Ireland in the 1982 world cup, his famous goal against Spain, moving to Real Mallorca and then finding his way to La Liga commentary, where he became the voice of La Liga for so many people. We start this podcast as Northern Ireland qualify for the 1982 World Cup...

Gerry Armstrong is a legend of Northern Ireland football playing and scoring in some of their most iconic games of the 70s and eighties. In part one of our interview with Gerry we talk about how Gaelic Games influenced his football career, joining Spurs, and getting his first caps for Northern Ireland.

On this week’s podcast Kehlan talks with Iain McCartney Manchester United author and historian about the great Johnny Carey and his influence in building a team that would become known as the 'Busby Babes'.Johnny is one of the finest players Ireland has ever produced. Captaining both Ireland and Manchester United. He was captain when Ireland became the first foreign team to beat England on English soil as won 2-0 at Goodison Park in 1949.As Manchester United Captain he led them to an FA Cup, a League title and was the Football Writers Association player of the season in 1949.You can find Iain’s books on amazon.co.uk where you'll find a good selection to enjoy!

On this week's GS podcast Kehlan tells the story of the connection between Dermot Keely and Jim McLaughlin. It is a story of how two men turned to each when they needed them and helped to forge footballing history for over decade.

A Heartfelt thanks from us here at Green Shoots: a history of irish football and thanks for listening through out the year. It has been wonderful to see so many of you take up the podcast and bring it into your listening pleasures. When we started this podcast we wanted to share the long and colorful history of Irish football through the stories of the people that lived it and the people that played it and I hope that we’ve done that for you. You can talk about stats and or argue the finer points of which player was better, but ultimately, it’s the stories that resonate with people. What was it like to play it, what was it like to live it? And we hope that you’ve gotten closer to the game that we love so much because of it. More to come very soon. So from me, from Gary and I’m sure from all of our great guests we’ve had on the show too – Have a very Merry Christmas.

On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary are looking at the Rep. of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the 2002 world cup in Korea/Japan. With some memorable results, a trip to Iran and perhaps the sowing of the seed that was to erupt before the 2002 world cup was to begin.Don’t forget to share the show on your own social media channels to let more people find out more about the history and heritage of irish football and why share your own stories about it while your at it.

Coming up on this week’s podcast we are taking a look at one of our greatest ever footballers as we talk about the great Tom 'Bud' Aherne. We hear from Gary about Buds international career and him being a part some of the Rep. of Ireland’s greatest wins.Then I talk to William Foster from Hatters Heritage (www.hattersheritage.co.uk), a Luton Town FC historical charity, about his time at Lutin Town, the team where he spent the majority of his club football and where he worked, retired and died too.

On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about Ireland's qualification campaign for Euro 2000. Drawn in a group with a the Balkans collection of FR Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Macedonia it was to be no easy group to qualify from. Once that old foe of Macedonia would change the fate of the campaign.

Today we have the 3rd and final part of our journey through Limerick football. In this episode podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about them winning the FAI Cup in 1982, matters off the pitch come to a head with high court drama, and where to now for Limerick football?So the last time we left it Limerick had just won the league tile in the 79/80 season…

We're in part 2 of our journey through Limerick football as we look at the period from 1960 through to 1980. In this episode we look at cup heartbreaks, hooligans in Limerick and Irish football and the coming of Eoin Hand as manager. We'll also be looking at Limerick winning finally winning the FAI Cup in 1971 and the last of Limerick's league titles in 1979/80.

This week's episode is the start of a three episode journey into the story of Limerick football. From a garrison town in 1891 to Treaty United in 2022, Limerick has had a long and storied history with football. In this episode we look at the origins of football in the city from 1891 to becoming League of Ireland champions in 1960.

After the Rep. of Ireland's dramatic 2-3 victory away to Hungary at the weekend (16-11-25) in their World Cup qualifier, they head to playoff. This all seemed so unlikely just a few months before when Ireland were bottom of the table with 1 point from 3 games. Kehlan and Gary look back on an historic night in Budapest and what it means for international football in the country.

Here is a bonus clip that never made it into Episode 27 and my interview with the great Waterford F.C. legend Alfie Hale. In it talks about his relationship with the great Busby Babe & Manchester United legend Denis Viollet.You can go back and listen to that fantastic interview with Alfie in a two parter in epsiode 27 and episode 28. You can also listen back to other great interviews with Pat Fenlon, Eoin Hand, Dermot Keely, Tony Galvin and Pat Byrne as well.

First division football in the League of Ireland has been around from the mid-1980s. Often seen as the LOI graveyard and, at times, notoriously difficult to get out of.So how did it all begin and who the key teams and moments of it during the 1980s?

In this week’s episode it’s the beginning of the Mick McCarthy era as he looks to take the Republic of Ireland to the world cup in France 1998. A stall-worth of the Charlton era. His partnership with Kevin Moran at the back, arguably the greatest center partnership in the history of Irish football. And now all eyes turned to him.Jack had retired into the sunset, but his shadow was long. Just how do you followed the man who made it all happen?

Dermot Keely is one of the most decorated players and managers in League of ireland history and on our last podcast we talked to him about his playing days up to when we walked away from Dundalk to go North and play with Glentoran. You can go back and listen to Part 1 in last week’s podcast, episode 39.Here we pick up the interview as Dermot is about leave Glentoran, head to UCD and eventually to that all conquering Shamrock rovers team on the 1980's under Jim McLoughlin.

Now Dermot Keely is considered by many to be one of the greatest players and managers in League of Ireland history.He has 9 Premier division titles and 7 FAI Cups between player and manager. He won player of the year and personality of the year for the 1984/85 season when he was part of a Shamrock Rovers side stacked with ability and talent.A part from managing Shels, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers to premier division titles, he also won promotion with Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps.Not bad for a man the great Jim McLaughlin described as ‘ Better Without the Ball’ which is also the name of his autobiography as well.

On this week’s podcast we’re in Europe again as we look at some famous nights for Irish clubs in the European Cup Winners Cup. A competition that no longer exists but which LOI clubs have a long history with.

Now the world cup in Spain 1982 was where Northern Ireland were headed to. But how would they do? No wins for the team as they headed to the world cup, a young man by the name of Norman Whiteside was only 17 and whats more they had been drawn in the same group as hosts Spain. But could Billy Bingham condure some more magic with this team?

Northern Ireland football is about to hit its golden age as Billy Bingham becomes manager in 1980. With him would come some of Northern Ireland footballs most cherished night of football. From the moment he became manager he molded a team with tenacity and toughness that would take them to trophy success and ultimately to multiple World Cups.

On the show this week Kehlan and Gary are talking about the end of an era as Jack Charlton steps away from the Rep. of Ireland after 10 years that delivered so many memories. It came though at the end of the Euro 1996 qualifiers as Ireland miss out on a journey to England.

On this week’s show we have part 2 of our interview with the great Tony Galvin where we talk about winning the UEFA cup with Spurs, especially at White Hart Lane, What was Jack Charlton really like as a manager?, and beating England at Euro '88.

On this week's Podcast Kehlan is talking with Tony Galvin has had a storied career in football. Playing with one of the great teams of the 80s in Tottenham Hotspur, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup. He played for the Rep. of Ireland and playing in all of Ireland’s games in Euro ’88. He has a book as well talking about his and his brother football lives called Galvinised: The Footballing Tale of Brothers Chris and Tony Galvin.

On this week's show Kehlan and Gary are back for Part 2 of our European Cup special talking about some famous nights for League of Ireland clubs in the European Cup/Champions League.Ties in this episode: Dundalk F.C. v Linfield -> Hibs -> CelticLimerick F.C. v Real Madrid Athlone Town v KBShamrock Rovers v Linfield Cork v CwmbranSt. Patrick's Athletic v CelticShelbourne F.C. v SlogaBohemians F.C. v BATE BorisovShelbourne F.C. in 2004Dundalk F.C. in 2016

On this week's podcast it's part one of a two part look at League of Ireland clubs in the European Cup. We look at the glamour ties, the near misses and the wins that LOI clubs have had on their European journeys. On this episode we talk about: Shamrock Rovers v OGC Nice, 1959F.C. Zurich v Dundalk F.C., 1963Drumcondra F.C. v ASK Vowaerts Berlin, 1965Waterford F.C. v Manchester United, 1968Waterford F.C. v Glentoran F.C. -> Celtic F.C., 1970Bohemians F.C. v Rangers F.C., 1975Dundalk F.C. v PSV Eindhoven, 1976Bohemians F.C. v A.C. Omonia -> Dynamo Dresden, 1978

The incredible story of Patrick O’Connell was for a long time lost. Buried in the layers of time that passes. But in Seville and Barcelona he’ll never be forgotten. He made winning trophies a habit and made players feel ten foot tall.This is the story of the first Irishman to captain Manchester United, To bring the first and only La Liga league title to Real Betis, and who resurrected FC Barcelona from ashes.

On this week's Green Shoots: a history of Irish football with Kehlan Kirwan and football historian Gary Spain they're looking at how Northern Ireland qualified for the 1958 World Cup and how they fared at the tournament in Sweden. From being a team that everybody beat to cementing they're place in Northern Ireland football history, this is the story of how a team became legends.

In part 2 of our interview with Alfie Hale we talk about his career at Waterford FC, management, plus we talk about academies, young players and board rooms too.Next week Gary is back and we’re going to be talking about N. Ireland’s qualification and journey to the 1958 World Cup. Some great stories in there so join us for that.Don’t forget to share the show on your own social media channels as well as liking, subscribing and turning on notifications to the show on whatever platform you listen to us on.

On this week's podcast Kehlan talks to League of Ireland legend Alfie Hale about his footballing life. Alfie has played for Waterford FC, Doncaster Rovers, Newport County, and Aston Villa and more. He has six league of Ireland titles (including being top goal scorer in a few of them as well) he’s won the league of Ireland as a manager and got Kilkenny City promoted to the premier division as champions of the first division.In Part one we talk about growing up playing football and what happened when he moved to England to play the game over there.

Thanks to the thousands of you who have listened to the show so far. This week we're rewinding all the way back to our very first show at the start of this year. How did Irish football begin on the Island? Who were the first clubs? Let find out by listening to the origin story of Irish football. We’re only just beginning and with your support we’ll be doing something great things over the next year.

On this week's Green Shoots Kehlan and Gary are talking about the Rep, of Ireland's World Cup adventure in USA '94. Don’t forget you can listen to us on host of audio platforms including Spotify and Apple podcasts. Where ever you listen make sure to subscribe and turn notifications on for the podcast so you know exactly when new podcasts for the show come out. And share the show on your own social media to network to spread the history and heritage of Irish football.

On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary discuss the Rep. of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. It was a campaign that was nip and tuck throughout and went down to the final game of the group. With dramatic twists and turns the campaign all came down to one night in November amidst the backdrop of murder and a circle of violence in Northern Ireland. One nations pride and another's glory hung in the balance.

On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about Ireland's campaign to qualify for Euro '92. The national team says goodbye to Dalymount Park, while the likes of Denis Irwin and Roy Keane make their debuts. Plus, they look at the players and matches of the campaign that were looking to get the Rep. of Ireland to a third straight major tournament in a row.

On this week’s show Kehlan and Gary are on a new journey as we look at the Northern Ireland international team from 1920 through to 1939. The player that scored 96 goals in a single season and famous victories for the national team in a 2 decade span that is absent of Home Nations tournament championship wins.

We’re at Italia '90 where Kehlan and Gary talk about how we got there, playing in the world cup and Gary will be bringing us some of those incredible fan stories that happened along the way including some espionage in Hungary, the head of the FAI getting arrested and being in Sicily when their much loved hero, Toto Schillaci, scored.

In this week's show Kehlan and Gary talk about the League of Ireland in the 1990s. A decade that saw some crazy last day league champions and leahue title playoffs. Plus shock cup winners like Bray Wanderers, Sligo Rovers and Galway United.

We’re giving you the second part of our great interview with League of Ireland legend Pat Byrne where he talks about his footballing life including playing at Bohemians, Philadelphia Fury, Leicester City, one of the great all-time teams in Shamrock Rovers and managing Shelbourne to a league and FAI CUP.If you haven’t listened to part 1 you can go back and listen to that first, all about his early childhood and how he developed in the game.

On this week's podcast Kehlan talks with one of the all time greats of the game. Pat Byrne’s journey in football has been varied from Ireland to the United States, to Leicester City and Hearts in Scotland and back home again to play. Success followed him almost everywhere he went. 6 League of Ireland titles, 4 FAI Cups, an English 2nd Division title as player and won the league and cup with Shelbourne and brought KilKenny City into the premier Division too as a manager. This is part 1 of 2 episodes with Pat, the 2nd part to be published in the coming days.

On this week's show Kehlan an Gary look at the Rep. of Ireland football team as Jack Charlton is named the new manager and brings the country to its first ever major tournament, Euro 88'.We look at Jack Charlton getting the Ireland and how he beat Bob Paisley, yes that Bob Paisley from the great Liverpool team, to the job.We’ll look at how they made it to Euro 88, the players, the build up, what was it like to travel to it, getting around the tournament and what it meant after the tournament had finished.

On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary go through the 1980s in the League of Ireland. One team above all else would dominate the decade, Shamrock Rovers. Considered by many to be one the greatest LOI teams ever, they won 4 league titles in a row and 3 FAI cups in a row. A treble-double.They also discuss Limerick becoming champions, the start of the tiered system with the introduction of Division 1 and Derry joining the LOI.

On this weeks show Kehlan sits down with former Rep. of Ireland manager, Eoin Hand. Eoin talks where his love of football comes from as well as playing and managing in a League of Ireland winning team, being boss for the Rep. of Ireland national team, and fighting racism and apartheid in South Africa. So join us for a journey through the amazing footballing life of Eoin Hand.

In this weeks episode Kehlan and Gary talk about the Rep. of Ireland national team from 1979 to 1985. This includes and infamous night in Brussels in 1981, where Ireland were robbed of a goal and their efforts to reach to the World Cup in Spain would fall agonisingly short. We also look at the tenures of Johnny Giles, and Eoin Hand who managed the team and Alan Kelly who was nearly the full-time manager before Hand got the job.

In this weeks Green Shoots podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about the remarkable decade that was the 1970's in League of Ireland history. With so many great teams and so many vying for League and Cup titles, why then did so many start to walk away from League of Ireland football?

On this weeks show Kehlan Kirwan talks with a former player and manager that has been a serial winner throughout his career. Where he goes trophies usually follow. Pat Fenlon is now Director of Football at Bohemians F.C. and he talks with Kehlan about his football life and getting Bohs back to winning trophies in the League of Ireland.

In this weeks Green Shoots: a history of Irish football Kehlan and Gary talk about Irish international football from the late 50s through to the early 1970s as they play in front over 100,000 people in Poland, a memorable or maybe not so memorable 1-0 win against West Germany in Germany and we get introduced to a young man who would leave a huge impact on Irish football, Johnny Giles.

On this weeks show Kehlan talks with Chris Lee, the author of a brand new book 'Shades of Green – a journey through irish football'. Chris has also written 'Origin Stories: The pioneers who took football to the world' and 'Defiant – A history of football against Fascism'. To see why he turned to writing about Irish football we sat down and had a chat with him about his brand new book.

On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary talk about the League of Ireland at its zenith during the 1960s. We also chat about:- That extraordinary 1956 cup final between Shamrock Rovers and Cork Athletic- The one that Gary has been waiting to talk about, Limerick are the 1960 League champions- We talk about European football as Drumcondra beat Bayern Munich 1-0 and some glamorous and not so glamorous European ties for Irish clubs in the 60s. including a surprise win for Waterford over Northern rivals Glentoran.- Plus we talk about the great Shamrock Rovers side of the 60s who won 6, FAI cups in a row- And a Waterford side who would win 3 league titles in a row and 6 in 8 seasons.

In this weeks episode Kehlan and Gary talk about one of Shamrock Rovers greatest ever managers, Paddy Coad. His teams had an emphasis of young players and would set the foundation for some of the greatest League of Ireland teams of all time. Plus we look at Evergreen United FC, Waterford FC, Shelbourne FC and some famous results for the Rep. of Ireland national side.